Blood+ - TV-MA

Powerful girl battles vampires in gory anime.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-MA
  • Network: Cartoon Network
  • Cast: Crispin Freeman, Kari Wahlgren, Olivia Hack
  • Genre: Science Fiction

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this anime series is extremely violent and often scary. Vampire-like monsters hunt men, women, and children, killing them with their sharp teeth and extra-long claws; blood also spurts out of decapitated victims' throats. The young female protagonist masterfully wields a sword, slashing both beasts and men, and many tense moments are accentuated with spooky music. The protagonist and other young female characters are also sexualized; wear ultra-short skirts; and sometimes talk about not eating to avoid getting fat.

Families can talk about different styles of animation. What characterizes an "anime" series? If you're familiar with anime, what themes do you see repeated in different series? In general, how is animation different in kids' shows and more adult-oriented shows like this one? Why use animation to tell grown-up stories in the first place? How does animation affect the story being told?

Message

Social Behavior:

The protagonist is an athletic, sweet young woman with super powers, which conveys the idea that women and girls can be strong and powerful. But the she's also sexualized to an extent, and romantic encounters happen to her rather than engaging her as an active participant. In one scene, a schoolgirl complains that "I just look at pizza and gain three pounds!"

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Ultra-exaggerated, gory anime violence. Heads are chopped off and bodies impaled, and there's gunfire, sword-wielding, military scenes, and fields of dead bodies.

Sex

Schoolgirl skirts are super short and sometimes flip up to reveal underwear. Teen girl body parts get lots of attention. In one episode, an older man kisses the schoolgirl protagonist romantically.

Language

Pretty mild, mostly of the "hell" and "damn" variety.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Sierra Filucci

The seemingly normal Saya (voiced by Kari Wahlgren) lives with a loving adoptive family, goes to school, competes in track and field events, and discusses politics with her friend. But a flashback to her previous life shows that she was once involved in a bloody massacre and wielded a sword against terrifying, vampire-like beasts called chiropterans. As her memory returns, young Saya faces her fate as savior of her family, friends, and countrymen.

Is it any good?

3
The story is compelling, mysterious, and complex. But be forewarned: Though it's animated, BLOOD+ isn't for kids. Violent scenes go beyond a simple dead body or stabbing -- be prepared for dramatic, slow-motion beheadings and gallons of red blood spurting out of amputated limbs. And it's not just the bad guys who wreak havoc; in a flashback scene, Saya slashes her way through a group of people, and it's unclear what her motive is and whether she's only killing bad guys.

Anime is known for its sexual portrayals of young female characters, and while this isn't an X-rated series, Saya and other underage female characters also wear exaggeratedly short schoolgirl skirts, which sometimes pop up to reveal a glimpse of underwear. The girls' sexualized nature extends to other parts of the series, too -- in one scene, an older male kisses Saya by surprise, and possibly against her will, but the kiss then turns romantic.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 8 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/26/08 by AnimeAngel13 Kid contributor, age 14

I LUV THIS ANIME!!!! ^^

Blood+ is my FAVORITE show on t.v. Me and my sister luv it! <3 Saya is almost exactly like me! ^^ I luv many of the characters in the anime. Saya, Hagi, Lulu, Riku, Kai, Irene, Solomon, and the many others. Also, the violence doesn't bother me at all! I just wish that there would be more Blood Plus...
5


Posted on 02/25/08 by Tenoni Kid contributor, age 11

5


Posted on 12/06/07 by Mharu Skii Kid contributor, age 13

YAY! Vampires

This is one of my favorite animes ever. I love the entire series and almost all the characters; Hagi especially.
5


Posted on 11/03/07 by Saya Kid contributor, age 14

Not mentioned earlier...

I love this anime dearly. But, I recently purchased this anime, and I was shocked! One of the male protagonists, Riku, is raped and killed (it wasn't very graphic but some non-graphic images were shown) by the female antagonist, Diva, so she can impregnate herself, in one of the later episodes. Since this episode is due to air Nov. 10th 2007 (Episode 32, Boy Meets Girl) I felt that people may want to protect their children from this sort of violence. Overall though this is a great anime, although I wouldn't recomend it for small children. It's a very violent series and the uniforms (which I consider normal) may seem a bit skimpy to some. But it has many great characters and a wonderful storyline, so, any adults and teens interested in anime are likely to enjoy this show.
Age 17+
5


Posted on 09/06/07 by Izunami-chan Adult contributor

Awesome!

This is probably my favorite anime on tv right now. It's obviously not meant for little kids because of the violence (which is pretty evident even from the first minute and a half of the first episode, which I loved), but I haven't really noticed any sexual themes or anything. There is one kiss in it so far, but it wasn't exactly a real one; Hagi was just giving Saya blood so she could fight. Anyway, I think this is a great show for older teens and up to watch, because it has a really great story and Saya presents a powerful, yet realistic, female character.
5


Posted on 08/06/07 by yankee01 Kid contributor, age 12

good

one of my saturday night shows
Age 13+
5


Posted on 08/04/07 by good father who loves anime Adult contributor

This is personally one of my favorite shows, it deals with mature themes, not because of sex or violence, but near the end gets very tragic, phylisophical and psychological torment, but the violence is extremely gruesome and gory, but it has no sexuality what so ever, you consider girls dressed in miniskirts inapropriate, if you have been to Japan, that's how every girl is supposed to dress, it's the national school uniform, and unlike shows like Air Gear or Desert Punk, which are the most sexual anime's that are not porn I have ever seen, this is completely appropriate in manerisms, and it is much more of a problem here in America about not eating to prevent fat then in Japan, but if your kid is easily scared, or is faint of heart, this is definitely not for them
4


Posted on 05/12/07 by Sayuri Kid contributor, age 12

pretty good, for people like me

this anime was very good, IF you like violence. this show is NOT for the faint hearted. But the story line and premise is very interesting.

See all 8 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

Age 17+
5


Posted on 09/06/07 by Izunami-chan Adult contributor

Awesome!

This is probably my favorite anime on tv right now. It's obviously not meant for little kids because of the violence (which is pretty evident even from the first minute and a half of the first episode, which I loved), but I haven't really noticed any sexual themes or anything. There is one kiss in it so far, but it wasn't exactly a real one; Hagi was just giving Saya blood so she could fight. Anyway, I think this is a great show for older teens and up to watch, because it has a really great story and Saya presents a powerful, yet realistic, female character.
Age 13+
5


Posted on 08/04/07 by good father who loves anime Adult contributor

This is personally one of my favorite shows, it deals with mature themes, not because of sex or violence, but near the end gets very tragic, phylisophical and psychological torment, but the violence is extremely gruesome and gory, but it has no sexuality what so ever, you consider girls dressed in miniskirts inapropriate, if you have been to Japan, that's how every girl is supposed to dress, it's the national school uniform, and unlike shows like Air Gear or Desert Punk, which are the most sexual anime's that are not porn I have ever seen, this is completely appropriate in manerisms, and it is much more of a problem here in America about not eating to prevent fat then in Japan, but if your kid is easily scared, or is faint of heart, this is definitely not for them

Kids Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

5


Posted on 05/26/08 by AnimeAngel13 Kid contributor, age 14

I LUV THIS ANIME!!!! ^^

Blood+ is my FAVORITE show on t.v. Me and my sister luv it! <3 Saya is almost exactly like me! ^^ I luv many of the characters in the anime. Saya, Hagi, Lulu, Riku, Kai, Irene, Solomon, and the many others. Also, the violence doesn't bother me at all! I just wish that there would be more Blood Plus...
5


Posted on 02/25/08 by Tenoni Kid contributor, age 11

5


Posted on 12/06/07 by Mharu Skii Kid contributor, age 13

YAY! Vampires

This is one of my favorite animes ever. I love the entire series and almost all the characters; Hagi especially.
5


Posted on 11/03/07 by Saya Kid contributor, age 14

Not mentioned earlier...

I love this anime dearly. But, I recently purchased this anime, and I was shocked! One of the male protagonists, Riku, is raped and killed (it wasn't very graphic but some non-graphic images were shown) by the female antagonist, Diva, so she can impregnate herself, in one of the later episodes. Since this episode is due to air Nov. 10th 2007 (Episode 32, Boy Meets Girl) I felt that people may want to protect their children from this sort of violence. Overall though this is a great anime, although I wouldn't recomend it for small children. It's a very violent series and the uniforms (which I consider normal) may seem a bit skimpy to some. But it has many great characters and a wonderful storyline, so, any adults and teens interested in anime are likely to enjoy this show.
5


Posted on 08/06/07 by yankee01 Kid contributor, age 12

good

one of my saturday night shows
4


Posted on 05/12/07 by Sayuri Kid contributor, age 12

pretty good, for people like me

this anime was very good, IF you like violence. this show is NOT for the faint hearted. But the story line and premise is very interesting.
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132 votes